Against the backdrop of rapid technological transformation in modern warfare, the importance of specialized military engineering and advanced defense innovation continues to grow significantly. To examine the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber defense, and next-generation military technologies, our Managing Editor, Ms. Parsa Imran, conducted an exclusive and in-depth interview with , Chief Executive Officer of Axum International, a prominent Algerian defense contractor with extensive expertise across the defense and security sector.
During the discussion, Mr. Rebahi shared valuable insights into emerging battlefield technologies, the growing role of autonomous systems in contemporary conflicts, and the strategic challenges facing defense industries in an increasingly complex security environment. The interview also explored the importance of innovation, international cooperation, and technological adaptation in shaping the future of modern defense capabilities.
1. What are the most significant technical challenges in modernizing legacy military platforms to address contemporary asymmetric threats?
Legacy military platforms were designed in a different era, and rehabilitating them for use in
current warfare requires a combination of expertise and sufficient financial support in order to
achieve integration similar to linking two fundamentally different entities.
Accordingly, the main technical challenges that hinder modernization include the limitations of
outdated designs, the inability to accommodate technologies such as artificial intelligence, as well
as cybersecurity concerns, and power and infrastructure limitations that older military platforms
may not be able to sustain.
Nevertheless, many armed forces have successfully upgraded older systems, rehabilitated them,
and redeployed them to the battlefield.
2. How can advanced materials and composites enhance armored vehicle survivability and performance in high-intensity conflicts?
For decades, armored forces have remained a fundamental pillar of warfare, with militaries
continuously improving them by strengthening armor through the integration of advanced
materials and lightweight, high-strength composites that have enhanced mobility and
maneuverability.
However, armored warfare today faces serious challenges, as even the most advanced armored
vehicles now confront a real nightmare in the form of a new generation of low-cost, long-range
drones with significant explosive power and deadly precision.
3. What role do directed energy systems play in shaping the future architecture of air and missile defense?
Directed energy systems such as lasers and high-precision microwave technologies are playing an
increasingly important role in the development of air and missile defense.
Their role can be summarized in providing low-cost interception, rapid engagement speed, and
strengthening capabilities related to layered defense structures, despite existing challenges such
as their substantial energy requirements.
In this regard, one notable example is the DragonFire system, an advanced high-precision laser
platform designed to intercept aerial targets at high speed and at a significantly reduced cost per
engagement.
4. In your view, what are the primary engineering considerations for integrating unmanned systems into joint military operations?
Recent conflicts have demonstrated that military success no longer depends solely on combat
platforms themselves, but rather on how effectively they are integrated into broader
reconnaissance, communication, and multi-domain targeting systems, fundamentally
transforming modern warfare.
Key engineering considerations include:
• Secure communication integration, such as the use of MQ-9 Reaper systems operating
within command and control networks to provide real-time intelligence to ground and air
forces.
• Resistance to jamming, such as the Milrem THeMIS system used for reconnaissance and
logistical support, which has shown substantial capability in integrating with ground units.
• Autonomy while maintaining human oversight, such as the cooperation between F-35
Lightning II fighter aircraft and combat or reconnaissance drones to enhance battlefield
awareness.
5. How can human factors engineering improve operator performance in complex commandand-control environments?
Human factors engineering can improve operator performance by designing interfaces and
operating systems that reduce cognitive burden while enhancing decision-making speed.
The importance of human factors engineering has been demonstrated in several examples:
In the Russian-Ukrainian war, field applications and simplified digital interfaces were used to
integrate drone, reconnaissance, and artillery data, improving response times and reducing
targeting cycles.
Regarding drones, effective operation has required simple control interfaces and advanced
training to reduce mental burden on operators in fast-paced combat environments.
Thus, modern warfare has proven that superiority depends not only on technology itself, but also
on designing systems that enable human operators to comprehend complex information and
make effective decisions under pressure.
6. What emerging technologies offer the greatest potential for next-generation military vehicle propulsion and mobility?
The next generation of military vehicles is expected to move toward platforms that are more
efficient, possess a lower operational signature, and demonstrate greater maneuverability
through the integration and advancement of:
• Smart energy systems: hybrid and electric propulsion systems that reduce fuel
consumption while providing better capability to power advanced electronic systems.
• Lightweight, high-durability materials that reduce weight without sacrificing protection,
thereby improving speed and range.
• Artificial intelligence and mobility management systems to enhance performance,
predictive maintenance, and optimal route selection.
Accordingly, based on these emerging technologies, next-generation military vehicles will evolve
from conventional combat platforms into highly efficient intelligent systems capable of operating
across diverse environments.
7. How should military engineering address the growing convergence of cyber threats and physical weapons systems?
As the overlap between digital systems and modern weapons platforms increases, military
engineering can no longer separate the physical dimension from the cyber dimension in combat
system design.
Vehicles, air defense systems, and unmanned aircraft all increasingly rely on complex networks of
software, sensors, and communications, making them vulnerable not only to conventional kinetic
attacks, but also to cyber intrusions, electronic warfare, and even internal operational disruption.
Therefore, military engineering must adopt an integrated approach that embeds cybersecurity at
the core of design from the earliest stages through the development of flexible architectures,
hardened networks, and autonomous systems capable of functioning even in contested digital
environments.
In future wars, platform survivability will no longer be measured solely by armor thickness or
firepower, but also by the ability to withstand cyberattacks as effectively as enemy fire.
8. What lessons from recent theaters of operation should shape the future design of wearable soldier systems and personal protective equipment?
Recent theaters of war have shown that soldier equipment design can no longer focus solely on
ballistic protection, but must instead integrate protection, communication, battlefield awareness,
and mobility.
Key lessons include:
• First, the modern battlefield has become highly transparent due to the widespread use of
drones and persistent surveillance, reducing the effectiveness of traditional camouflage
and driving the need for equipment that lowers both thermal and electronic signatures.
• Second, the growing density of battlefield information has created a need for integrated
communication and situational awareness systems embedded directly into soldier
equipment, ensuring access to real-time data without excessive distraction or cognitive
overload.
• Third, asymmetric threats such as fragmentation and small drones require rethinking
personal armor design to provide greater flexibility and broader coverage of critical areas
without reducing movement and maneuverability.
Ultimately, despite all technological advancements in protection, connectivity, and battlefield
integration, the doctrine and cause for which the soldier fights remain an essential and additional
driving force behind all of the above.
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